People are asked not to gift wrap their presents in order to help identify appropriate gifts in terms of age (1).

Everyone who buys and donates a gift is encouraged to post a photo of it on social mediausing the hashtag #SocialMediaSanta and to tag the Shelter Scotland (@shelterscotland on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter).

Anyone wanting to take part but unsure what to buy is encouraged to donate vouchers for clothes and household retailers.

Social Media Santa runs from November 1-30.

"It takes just a few clicks"

Ross McCulloch, the founder of Social Media Santa, said: ''It takes just a few clicks to make Christmas a happy time for children even though their families are coping with homelessness.

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''We’re hoping that Scotland’s Social Media Santas will dig deep for yet another year and make a real difference to children and families across the country.''

"No child should be homeless"

Graeme Brown, Director at Shelter Scotland, said: ''I want to thank all the Social Media Santas who have ensured we have had had presents to distribute over the past six years. The gifts are greatly appreciated by children and families across Scotland.

''No child should be homeless, especially at Christmas, but we know that last year 14,000 children were made homeless in Scotland and there will be more than 6,000 children without a place to call home this festive season across Scotland.